Andrea planned to keep it that way.“I can’t believe you asked Maya about me.”No one had asked her neighbors about her.Then again, no one but her neighbors knew she lived there.
“I find you a very fascinating person.”
“I can assure you, I’m not.”She was plain and mundane.No excitement for her, and she preferred it that way.She liked predictable and boring.
“Let me be the judge of that.”Michael took a step closer to her.“I’m having a get-together at my house next weekend.I’m inviting all the neighbors.Come and let me get to know you better.Let them get to know you better.”
“I don’t think so.”Andrea felt herself shrinking back.Physically and emotionally.
“Why not?”he questioned, his head cocking to the side with a look of puzzlement on his face.
What excuse could she say that he would believe and drop the issue?“I have something going on next weekend.”
Michael didn’t look like he believed her, but he didn’t outright call her a liar.“Very well, let me know if you change your mind.”
“I will.”She wouldn’t.Andrea had purposely avoided get-togethers with the neighbors for years.Maya had tried several times, then finally gave up after Andrea’s consistent rejection.“I have to get back to work; I’ll talk to you later.”
“Work?I thought you worked at the bar.”
“I do, but I also volunteer at a local charity that helps support a shelter for battered women.I do their paperwork.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you get into that work?”
“An even less exciting story.There was a group of women standing on a street corner with neon signs advertising a charity race.I pulled over and asked them about it.They were doing a charity race to raise money to build a bigger shelter, but so far, they haven’t had many sign-ups.I volunteered after that, and I’ve been working with them ever since.”
“That’s a very noble cause.They’re lucky to have you.”
He made it sound like she did something heroic.She didn’t.“I don’t do anything special for them.I’m more of a glorified secretary.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Andrea.All roles, no matter how insignificant they seem, are important.Even secretaries.”
“How do you figure that?”
“How do you think organizations run?People behind the scenes.The people that budget and make sure to keep the doors open to continue to help others.”
“I never thought of it that way.”She had just wanted to help in a small way and keep herself anonymous.The way he spoke though, made her feel important and special.Her work at the shelter was much more fulfilling than the bar job was.
“It’s all a matter of perception.”He smiled warmly at her, and she found herself returning it with one of her own.“Well, I’ll leave you to get back to your important work.”
“Okay.”She didn’t know what else to say.
“Have a good day, Andrea.”
“Thanks.”She leaned against the doorframe and watched him walk back to his house without a backward glance.He really was a handsome and charming man when he wasn’t being overly flirtatious all the time.Who was she kidding—even then, he was cute; she just refused to admit it to herself.
Andrea caught movement out of the corner of her eye and saw Maya standing on her porch staring at her.Andrea waved and ducked back into her house.She really needed to get her report back to her supervisor.
Chapter 10
Three days.It had been three days since Andrea had seen or spoken to Michael.She didn’t see him around his house, and he hadn’t shown up at her work.Not that she had been looking for him.She just wanted to be watchful in case she needed to avoid him.Yes, that was right.It had nothing to do with the fact she wanted to see him, even a glimpse.There was seriously something wrong with her.
For someone who kept pushing Michael away, as soon as he left her be, she was looking for him—unless that was his tactic.Make her pine for him.Yeah right, she was not the pining type.She couldn’t care less if she never saw Michael with no last name again.
“Andrea.”Andrea jumped at the deep voice right behind her.She whipped around and came face to face with her tormentor.“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”He smiled at her.
“You didn’t.”
Michael raised one eyebrow in disbelief.
